Can a HH be pitched too tight?

[wamyteipen]

I recently replaced my stock support rope with rings buckles and webbing on my HH exped asym. I am noticing that I can hang the hammock much tighter now than with the stock ropes. This past weekend I went out on an overnighter and hung my hammock low and tight (due to 14 mph winds off the lake) between two trees that were approximately 20 feet apart. When I got in the hammock the ridgeline was about 4 inches from my face. It was a bit annoying and their wasn't a lot of room in the hammock. Is this because I had it pitched so tight or was something else going on? I did notice, however, that I could almost sleep completely flat on my stomach. I was also the first time I pitched between two trees so far apart.

[ZDP-189]

If you have a problem, you could always replace the ridgeline with Spectra.

[angrysparrow]

I think ZDP is right. It sounds like you may have had the suspension tight enough to cause the ridgeline to stretch, distorting the shape of the hang some.

There have been a few reports that HH has switched to a nylon ridgeline for some of their hammocks, instead of the spectra that they used to use. If that's the case (and if you are really getting stretch), I beleive I'd replace the ridgeline with something non-stretching. Then, you can hang as tight as you like and still get the same hammock shape.

[headchange4u]

I really crank my HH as tight as I can when setting up.

[wamyteipen]

The ridgeline stretching makes sense now that you mention it. Thanks for the info fellas.

[blackie]

when the HH streaches out ..you loose the sag..and thus the space inside the hammock...i set mine tight..but i think with the extra leverage of the strap and buckles ..you can over do it..i would try a thicker non-streach ridge..or try shortning your ridge a few inches and see if this add the proper slack to the set up...good luck

[hangnout]

I recently replaced my stock support rope with rings buckles and webbing on my HH exped asym. I am noticing that I can hang the hammock much tighter now than with the stock ropes.

I have been wondering if changing to rings/buckle setups have contributed to some of the ridgeline failures discussed in other threads?

[BillyBob58]

I have been wondering if changing to rings/buckle setups have contributed to some of the ridgeline failures discussed in other threads?

Hey, you may be on to something!

[wamyteipen]

I have been wondering if changing to rings/buckle setups have contributed to some of the ridgeline failures discussed in other threads?

I think that's a definite possibility considering how much tighter you are able to pitch. I worried that it would snap all night long. Luckily it didn't. While the flatness of the hammock was very comfortable the lack of headroom/space in the hammock make it less desireable. There's definitely an art to hanging a hammock and I think, slowly but surely, I'm getting the hang of it (no pun intended.)

[BillyBob58]

I think that's a definite possibility considering how much tighter you are able to pitch. I worried that it would snap all night long. Luckily it didn't. While the flatness of the hammock was very comfortable the lack of headroom/space in the hammock make it less desireable. There's definitely an art to hanging a hammock and I think, slowly but surely, I'm getting the hang of it (no pun intended.)

Are you in a Hennessy? Did your hammock lengthen when you tightened up? Would that be from the ridgeline stretching? I'm thinking of how the HH is supposed to have that consistant sag that doessn't vary much with how it is hung.

One consistant problem for me, if I don't pull pretty darn tight plus tie the side lines out, is bug net in my face. Sometimes I put a spare item or two over the ridgeline to widen the netting. Sometimes I think the netting is stretched from the time I managed to get on the netting the first night I ever used it. It just seems to loose to me. My Speer netting does not do that, but of course that's with an adjustable ridgeline.